The president of Bosnia's autonomous Serb Republic defied rulings by the international envoy to Bosnia, whose role is to prevent the multi-ethnic Balkan state slipping back into conflict.

President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, spoke after the court in BiH issued an arrest warrant for President of the Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister Radovan Višković, and Speaker of the National Assembly of Republic of Srpska,

The recent Bosnian Serb moves are seen as part of escalating efforts to break the territory away from Bosnia and have been condemned by the United States and the European Union. Dodik, who has faced U.S. and Bristish sanctions, is backed by Moscow.